Protecting Your Creativity
Carolynn Hayman has spent nearly two decades building a balloon career that’s anything but ordinary. She’s the creator of Conrad the Unicorn, a balloon costume that went viral around the world, gained hundreds of millions of views and reshaped what many people thought was possible with balloons. But as Carolynn shared in episode 388 of The Bright Balloon, viral success also revealed something many creators don’t think about until it’s too late: protecting your creativity.
From Curiosity to Career-Defining Work
Carolynn’s journey into balloon costumes began at a small convention, long before social media virality was even part of the conversation. When she first stepped inside a balloon costume, she discovered how freeing it felt to perform anonymously, focusing on movement, humor and connection rather than being seen herself.
From there, she experimented! Early costumes felt awkward and limiting, but each iteration taught her something new. She refined her costumes' visibility and movement year after year.
Why Being Seen Matters
Competitions played a key role in Carolynn’s growth... not because of trophies, but because they created visibility. She prepared intentionally, thinking through music and performance, and treating each appearance as a chance to practice and learn.
That preparation has since led to teaching opportunities, industry recognition and eventually, Conrad the Unicorn!
When Your Work Goes Viral
Conrad’s viral moment happened fast. Almost overnight, Carolynn’s following grew dramatically, requests flooded in and media opportunities appeared. While exciting, the experience was also overwhelming.
In our podcast interview, Carolynn was honest about how unprepared she felt for that level of attention. She hired a publicist and began thinking seriously about ownership of the character and identity she had created.
The Decision to Protect Her Work
As others began recreating Conrad without permission, Carolynn made the decision to trademark the character. It wasn’t about limiting creativity in the balloon community, but rather, it was about protecting an idea she had spent years developing.
That shift also changed how she viewed copyrighted characters and creative ownership in general. Having experienced what it feels like to see your work used without consent, Carolynn became more intentional about respecting others’ intellectual property as well.
Still Learning, Still Growing
Beyond Conrad, Carolynn has collaborated with major retailers, taught internationally and continues to attend conventions around the world. Her motivation hasn’t changed: she’s curious about how others work, how techniques differ across cultures and what she can learn next.
Her advice for other balloon artists is simple: stay curious, prepare thoughtfully and don’t wait until your work takes off to think about protecting it.
Listen in to our full conversation here.
